With the spotlight firmly on Cork City Sports this evening and Morton Games on Friday, much of the attention this week will naturally be on the Irish athletes competing at home. However, a handful of Irish are also in action across Europe tonight continuing their preparations for the championship season and chasing valuable world ranking points and qualifying standards.
First up in the early evening in Finland is Tullamore Harriers athlete Maddie Mooney, who returns to racing in Europe for the first time this outdoor season. Based in the United States, Mooney has enjoyed an encouraging campaign, regularly competing on the American collegiate circuit. Earlier this year she claimed bronze in the 1500m at the Irish Senior Indoor Championships, and arrives in Finland on the back of a personal best of 4:11.32, set just over a fortnight ago. She'll be hoping to build on that performance and continue her strong run of form
Then the focus switches to Lignano, Italy, where two Irish middle distance athletes are in action.
Leading the Irish challenge is Jodie McCann, who is no stranger to the Irish vest after representing Ireland at both the 2024 European Athletics Championships and the 2024 Summer Olympics. McCann is chasing the World Championships B standard for Birmingham after coming within half a second of it in Spain last Friday, where she clocked a personal best of 4:07.47. A similarly strong run this evening could see her dip under the qualifying mark, while also boosting her world ranking, with the Dublin City Harriers athlete currently sitting nine places the quota places.
Joining her on the start line is Ronan McMahon Staggs, who, like Maddie Mooney, is based in the United States and claimed bronze in the 1500m at this year's Irish Senior Indoor Championships. The Dublin City Harriers athlete has spent much of the outdoor season racing in America, with his only European outing so far coming in Switzerland at the beginning of July. He heads to Italy with an outdoor season's best of 3:39.74 and will be hoping to continue building momentum as the championship season gathers pace.
🇫🇮 Joensuu Motonet GP
⏰ 6.20pm – 🏃♂️ Maddie Mooney - Women's 1500m
📄 Starting List
📺 Watch Live (VPN needed, we recommend Surfshark)
📊 Results
🇮🇹 Meeting Lignano
⏰ 8.50pm – 🏃♂️ Ronan McMahon-Staggs - Men's 1500m
⏰ 8.55pm – 🏃♂️ Jodie McCann - Women's 1500m
📄 Starting List
📺 Watch Live
📊 Results
As always we wish Irish athletes competing in Europe every success this evening.
